gjm

Had mine done at CJ in Hamilton a couple of years ago. They charged nothing, valeted the car, replaced the slightly tatty number plate surrounds, and gave the car a many-point check. Give a main dealer a call and tell them you want your car sorted.

A switch could prevent spraying...I wonder if it somehow warms the nozzle to reduce the chance of freezing? No idea if it is fitted to our E36... Being an SE, it could be. I'll have a look.

Worth a go, but I'm not expecting much!

It's used to keep the windscreen washer jets from freezing up. It (and the bracket) are used on a whole host of cars and look to be fitted anywhere there's room!

I thought that was probably the case. I'll pull it apart at some point, but I'll see if I have some tiny bulbs, first.

The controls look like this, if that helps? The two dials at the top: the left one is on/off, the right is hot/cold. It's the rotary switches controlling the fan speed and blow direction that I thought might normally be lit when the lights are on. (They're not at the moment!)

Should the fan speed and direction dials in an E36 be illuminated when lights are on? Just thought I'd check before considering pulling things apart.

1kW is... 1.3hp? Probably slightly more. Still sounds as though it would draw less from the engine than a conventional PS unit, so those particularly keen on performance gains should see something. I was considering it for the Merc in light of the cost of a a replacement PS pump.

My first thought was "How much??? " A factory 325 manual M-Sport coupe supplied NZ new isn't going to be common, and the mileage is under 1000km a month. Hmm. Dunno. I do have a hard time considering any E30, M3 aside, being good value at 5-figures, though.

The guy who wrote the article suggests 7-21hp depending on circumstances. Of course, that doesn't account for any losses due to supplying power to the electric pump.

I wasn't thinking about this, and wasn't even looking for it. It's one of those things that just popped up and had me thinking the 190E has a squealing PS pump..." http://e28goodies.com/from-mechanical-to-electrical-power-steering/ Can it really be quite so easy? I've followed with an email to George, the author.

Latest rumours are that Matt LeBlanc has threatened to quite the show (the BBC has agreed to pay LeBlance for 2 seasons) over (yet) more Chris Evans abrasiveness, citing Evans' "rudeness and frosty attitude." Evans addressed the audience during filming of the first episode, saying “Don’t fold your arms, don’t wear black. Take it off – take everything off." and “Don’t fold your arms, don’t have your hands in your pockets. F***, f***, f***, f***, f***.”

I've been an advocate for the Bilstein/Eibach solution because it does represent the majority of things to the majority of users, and it does provide a single-source, nigh-on bolt-up solution that requires little thought and only a little technical expertise. The lower end solutions aren't as flexible as others, but they are good, out of the box. I've not bought new shocks recently (just springs) but my preference has formally been for Koni kit. For whatever reason, it's not as simple to buy Koni shocks and springs as a solution as it is with the Bilstein/Eibach offering. FWIW, I do feel the Koni yellows are superb. Certainly not the last word in suspension technology (that's megabucks) but the Yellows are very, very good. Choose springs carefully and you'll have a long-lasting, adaptable and adjustable (if you want!) set-up. If you want adjustable... If you don't and still prefer Koni, then there is the Str.T kit to consider, too.

I've used Eibach springs many times in the past and supplied some to other drivers (including one with an E46 M3) who have always given very positive feedback (please excuse the pun!) I used them on Fords, Mercedes and BMWs in the UK, initially as a replacement when the factory parts got tired, but also on cars that have seen a reasonable amount of track time. They're obviously not as track-suitable (with perhaps the exception of the ClubSport set up) as dedicated race kit, but they're fine for many club racers, especially those on a budget. I've also used Koni shocks and like them. As Dave says - the non-adjustable kits are not just a shock and spring setup. They are factory matched to perform a specific task. Also you'll find the Eibach springs vary considerably - E36 316i and 318i get different springs to a 6-cylinder car, and there are variations in the range for different body styles too. And, of course, the entire range of ProKit and SportKit are different.

Eibach's Prokit and Sportline kits are different. Prokit will lower by around 30mm front and rear, while the Sportline is typically 40-60mm down on stock; there asre different kits for these: the B12 Prokit and the B12 Sportline kit. The Bilstein B8 shock which is part of the kit is a shortened shock designed specifically to work well with shorter springs. Several of the Bilstein kits are adjustable. The B14 is ride-height adjustable, and the B16 is adjustable for ride height and damping. There's the B6 and B8 Damptronic which give adjustments for rebound and compression, and the Clubsport coilover kit. I just bought a set of Eibach Prokit springs for Miss M's E36 to replace the superlows whatever-they-are currently fitted. I expect them to cost $220-250 (maybe less) delivered from Germany once shipping and currency conversion is accounted for.

I think these are et20?

Looks really good.

I'd better keep on the good side of my daughter - she plans to become a lawyer!

That was my thought. Even sitting inside, you'd never know. open the bonnet and it looks stock. Great job.

OK, so it's not TradeMe. But I was pretty sure some people would like to see this. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/112032626726

Disclaimer: I visited the Hamilton Beer & Wine Company this evening and have been enjoying what we bought. People who think 'superlow'-branded springs provide better vfm and ride quality than a proper H&R, Bilstein/Eibach or similar suspension set up, even at comparable prices.

They manufacture original and aftermarket parts for many European vehicles, including BMW, VAG, PSA and Mercedes.

M10x125, I think.

I don't care about the 'hairdresser' comments - I really like this. Maybe I've turned the corner to 'that' age a bloke reaches when a sporty convertible seems essential? I seriously doubt it's affordable for me, but I may just have to give you a call, Ray...